There are many wonderful, magical novels people for children that you can make make into Yoto Cards. Especially because children can listen at a higher level than they can actually read at - so getting slightly more advanced stories for your kids will help their comprehension skills.
If your child is ready for Harry Potter Yoto cards, then they are ready for SO MANY other good series they can enjoy as well!
But the cost is always a question - what's the cheapest way to make cards of longer series? When you have to get multiple books and make several cards of each one, how do you save money?
This post is a cost comparison of popular middle grade audiobooks so you can make Yoto cards without spending a fortune!
Pros & Cons of the MYO Route for Long Books
One major pro of making cards yourself is the cost. It's often cheaper to buy the audio tracks elsewhere and then put them on a Yoto Card.
Remember that you'll have to factor in an additional $2-3 for the cost of the physical Yoto card. However, don't forget that cards are reusable and can be relinked to different playlists, so you may not need as many MYO cards as you think.
Also, you own the audiobook file forever, so if you ever left the Yoto system, you still own the file itself. (For example, sometimes my kids listen to Audible titles on the Yoto, but I have the actual file in my Audible Library even when they outgrow the Yoto.)
You can also combine tracks onto a single playlist if you make them yourself. That means you can put several books on the same MYO card to save money, even if Yoto sells it in the book-per-card format. If you use cards from Yoto, you cannot change the playlist at all; Yoto is in charge of the playlist and you can't change anything. So if the series comes on 6 cards, you're stuck with that.
One con to making your own cards is the time it takes. Instead of just buying a card and it's all ready to go, you've got to find the audio from another source, possibly convert it, create a playlist on the Yoto app, arrange the tracklist, and add them to your MYO card. You'll get faster at doing these steps, but it is time. (Here are the step-by-step directions for MYO if that sounds like a lot!)
You'll probably want to add labels to your MYO cards so you can easily see what book or music is on the card. This can take time and effort, depending on how professional you want to make them look! However, most parents enjoy the little creative outlet.
Depending on your available time, it may be easier to just buy the cards available through Yoto.
Pros & Cons of Buying from Yoto
A major pro of buying it from Yoto is that it's fast and easy.
It definitely takes a few steps to make your own cards and your time is valuable! Some parents enjoy the simple steps of MYO cards and the creative outlet of making matching labels. But it might be worthwhile just to buy a card and be done.
Plus, if you buy directly from the Yoto store, the file shows up instantly in your app. This is a big deal since you can instantly stream your audio from the app.
Another advantage is that you can resell the Yoto card when your children have outgrown it and get a bit of your money back.
One con is that it can be more expensive to buy cards from Yoto than the MYO route. (Like with the Henry Huggins series, which we will talk about in the next section.) Even when you factor in the cost of a few MYO cards, some audio files are much cheaper elsewhere.
Another con is that you could end up with tons of short cards, which can feel inefficient.
For example, the Llama Llama books from Yoto come on 8 separate cards and each book is only about 5 minutes long. Many parents choose to buy the tracks instead so they make a single Yoto playlist with the 8 book tracks on it. That feels much more efficient and doesn't bloat your collection.
Or some parents might dislike a single music track on a Yoto card and want to leave that song off their card. But There's no way to delete/skip a track from a card created by Yoto. But if you buy the music yourself and add it to a card, you have complete control over what you include.
And remember, you can make decisions on a case-by-case basis!
There are absolutely times when buying from Yoto makes sense, and there are times when you'll choose to DIY it. Let your heart (or wallet) guide you!
Middle-Grade Audiobooks for Yoto MYO Cards
Here are some suggestions for other great middle-grade audiobooks and series for kids-teens.
If you go the MYO route, these posts will be super helpful:
- How To Use Audible for Yoto cards - this is a necessary step if you choose to purchase from Audible!
- How To Use Libro.fm
- How to Use Downpour for Yoto
- How to Label Yoto Cards
- Step By Step Directions for MYO Cards
- Can I use Spotify, Libby, etc for MYO Cards?
- How To Make Harry Potter Yoto Cards
Henry Huggins Collection
The Henry Huggins series by Beverly Clearly is a winner for 7 to 9-year-old boys. The series has six books. My son blazed through all six books in just two weeks!
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card set: $44.99 | MP3 Cost: $9.19 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $7.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $36.50 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers the Henry Huggins collection on 6 different cards. | The 6-book collection often goes on sale for even cheaper. | This is definitely the cheapest option! You can put all 6 files in a single playlist on a single card. | Use a credit if you can, it's a lot cheaper for the 6-book series. |
| Get Henry Huggins on Yoto here. | Get Henry Huggins on Libro.fm here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get Henry Huggins on Downpour here. | Get Henry Huggins on Audible here. |
The cheapest way to get Henry Huggins on Yoto: This one is a clear no-brainer. Buy it on Libro or Downpour! Yoto's licensing deal makes it absurdly expensive in comparison. You can put 3-6 books on a single card if you want!
Ramona Quimby Series
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card set: $54.99 | MP3 Cost: $42.52 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $36.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $34.90 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers a collection with 8 different Ramona Quimby books in a set. Unfortunately, this is the most expensive way to purchase it. | This set has the same 8 books as the Yoto set. While it's more expensive than Downpour, if you have a membership, it's only $15. After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. | This set has the same 8 books as the Yoto set and you can use a Downpour credit for it. After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. Drop into a playlist and put on a single card. | This set has the same 8 books as the Yoto set. You can use credit for this set. After purchase, you'll need to use OpenAudible to convert the files into audio you can put on Yoto cards. |
| Get the Ramona Quimby Collection on Yoto here. | Get the Ramona Quimby Collection on Libro.fm here. | Get the Ramona Quimby Collection on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get the Ramona Quimby Collection on Audible here. |
Magic Tree House Books
Magic Treehouse Books are short stories featuring two children who go on adventures to different lands and times. There are literally 100+ books! These are very popular read-aloud books for young students - our kindergarten teacher always starts reading these to her class and they are a hit at that age and beyond!
There are a few options here for making Magic Treehouse Yoto cards. First, the Yoto Store itself carries a set of the first eight books in the series for $35. But you can also go the MYO route for the series and turn your favorites into Yoto cards.
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card set: $35.99 | MP3 Cost: $33.60 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $24 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $16.95 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store only offers the first eight books in the series as a set. This is the most expensive way to purchase it. | You can also get a set of books 9-16 here and a set of books 25-32 at Libro. | This set has the same 8 books as the Yoto set. | Audible also has books 9-16 and books 25-32 available as well. Here's how to convert your audible files. |
| Get the Magic Treehouse series on Yoto here. | Get the Magic Treehouse series on Libro.fm here. | Get the Magic Treehouse series on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get the Magic Treehouse series on Audible here. |
The cheapest way to get Magic Treehouse for Yoto: This set is cheapest through Audible even if you don't have a membership with them! It's about half the price of the cards through the Yoto store.
Charlotte's Web
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Cost: $12.99 | MP3 Cost: $21 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $15 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $18.90 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers the card for a super affordable price. | After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. | After purchase, you can download the MP3s and create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. Drop into a playlist and put on a single card. | After purchase, you'll need to use OpenAudible to convert the files into audio you can put on Yoto cards. |
| CHEAPEST OPTION: Get Charlotte's Web on Yoto here. | Get Charlotte's Web on Libro.fm here. | Get Charlotte's Web on Downpour here. | Get Charlotte's Web on Audible here. |
This is on Yoto already for $13, making it the cheapest and easiest way to get this book. However, I've totally seen Charlotte's Web on sale at Libro.fm, so check that too!
Roald Dahl Books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, BFG, James and the Giant Peach
Yoto has lots of books available by Roald Dahl, and several of them come in sets. You can get them individually for about $13 each (the shorter books are sometimes $10). But if you want to get the entire collection, Yoto has two sets, each containing 6 different stories.
One set (with well-known stories like the BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and more) costs $50. The other set, which has stories like Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Enormous Crocodile, costs $30.
Because Roald Dahl's books are so popular, the sets and some of his more popular novels are frequently sold out on Yoto. So you really have to watch the website to grab one when they restock. You can also sign up to be notified if there are certain cards you're eyeing.
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card set: $50 | MP3 Cost: $19.60 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $14 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $12.60 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers a set of Roald Dahl books (The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, George's Marvellous Medicine, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and the Twits) for $50, and has a second set for $30. | Libro sells Roald Dahl books separately. Other books, like The BFG, are mostly between $19-21. Because they don't have any sets available, buying Roald Dahl books through Libro is the most expensive option (if you want several). | Downpour has a small Roald Dahl collection available that includes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Enormous Crocodile, and The Magic Finger. | Audible carries the same collection as Downpour with five titles in it. Here's how to use software to convert your audible files. |
| Get Roald Dahl books on Yoto here. | Get Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Libro.fm here. | (TIE) Cheapest for Set: Get a Roald Dahl set on Downpour here. | (TIE) Cheapest for set: Get a Roald Dahl set on Audible here. |
The sets are much cheaper at Downpour and Audible but it depends if you are interested in all the books or just some (since the Downpour/Audible sets have only 5 books).
Boxcar Children Yoto Cards
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card set: $29.99 | MP3 Cost: $17.24 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $10 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $10.34 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers a set of the first four Boxcar Children books. The price is very reasonable considering you're getting four books. | Libro sells the Boxcar Children series as separate purchases. You may be able to get sets of older recordings of it but the most recent recordings are sold separately. | The latest version of the Boxcar Children series is sold separately on Downpour. | Audible has the Boxcar Children series as separate purchases. As of right now, they don't have a big set you can buy. |
| CHEAPEST OPTION FOR THE SET: Get the Boxcar Children set on Yoto here. | Get the Boxcar Children on Libro.fm here. | Get the Boxcar Children on Downpour here. | Get the Boxcar Children on Audible here. |
Because Yoto sells a set for only $30, that's your best bet! The other options all sell the books separately.
Little House in the Big Woods
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $16.09 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $13.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $9.99 or one $14.95 credit |
| Libro sells the Little House on the Prairie books separately. | Each book is sold separately. The first one is currently on sale for a little under $10. | Audible sells the Little House on the Prairie series as separate titles. |
| Get Little House in the Big Woods on Libro.fm here. | Get Little House in the Big Woods on Downpour here. | Get Little House in the Big Woods on Audible here. |
Yoto does not currently sell any books from the Little House on the Prairie series. The other books in the series are available from each retailer.
The Phantom Tollbooth
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Price: $12.99 | MP3 Cost: $28 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $20 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $14.95 or one credit |
| The Yoto Store offers the card for a super affordable price. | After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. | The book is currently on sale through Downpour for $15. | After purchase, you'll need to use OpenAudible to convert the files into audio you can put on Yoto cards. |
| Get The Phantom Tollbooth on Yoto here. | Get The Phantom Tollbooth on Libro.fm here. | Get The Phantom Tollbooth on Downpour here. | Get The Phantom Tollbooth on Audible here. |
Your cheapest option here is buying directly from Yoto though you could use an Audible credit if you have an Audible membership (but keep in mind you'd then have to convert it into a card).
Young Adult Audiobooks For Yoto MYO Cards
Here are some other great audiobooks and series for young adults that you could put on Yoto for your teens!
Narnia Series - The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
There are seven books in the Narnia series: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Set Price: $59.99 for 7 cards | MP3 Cost: $59.79 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $51.99 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $47.90 or one $14.95 credit |
| This unabridged version includes all seven books read by multiple narrators (one narrator per book). | This unabridged version is read by 7 authors (one per book). | This version is read by a single author. | This is the version read by multiple narrators (same audio as Yoto and Libro). You'll need to remove the DRM with software. |
| Get the Narnia set from the Yoto Store here. It's easy and done for you! | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get the set on Libro.fm here with a membership credit. (~$15) | Get the set on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Audible is the cheapest way to get the entire set, for just one (~$15) credit! Get it here. |
This is such a well-loved series, and Yoto just barely came out with the cards! Audible is the cheapest way, but it's a lot of time/energy to convert everything over. The Yoto card set seems expensive, but it's on par for just under $9 a book.
Percy Jackson And the Lightning Thief
This is a super popular series, especially for school-age boys. There are lots more books after this first one!
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $28 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $20 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $16.72 or one $14.95 credit |
| There is no set available on Libro, so you'll have to buy each book separately. Each book costs between $25 and $31. | There is no set available on Downpour, so you'll have to buy each book separately. Each book costs between $19 and $22 (though the books are on sale so you'll get a few dollars off). | There is no set available on Audible, so you'll have to buy each book separately. Each book costs between $16 and $18. Then convert them to unlocked files with software. |
| CHEAP OPTION: Get The Lightning Thief on Libro.fm here. | Get The Lightning Thief on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get The Lightning Thief on Audible here. |
Yoto does not currently sell any Percy Jackson books.
Harry Potter
We have a whole post dedicated to the best way to create Harry Potter Yoto Cards. Head there to read it!
The Lord of the Rings
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $34.49 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $29.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $11.99-33.48 or one $14.95 credit |
| There is no set available on Libro, but you can buy each book. Each book costs $34.49 (or $14.99 with the membership). | The books are sold separately for $30 each, though they are on sale right now for about $7 off each book. | Audible has several different versions by several different readers available (including one version read by Andy Serkis, aka Gollum). The price varies depending on the reader. You'll have to convert your Audible files. |
| Get The Fellowship of the Ring on Libro.fm here. | Get The Fellowship of the Ring on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get The Fellowship of the Ring on Audible here. |
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is not currently available from the Yoto Store; you'll have to do a MYO Lord of the Rings Yoto card.
The Hobbit
There are several versions of The Hobbit available, including one by Andy Serkis (Gollum), and then another by Rob Inglis.
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $28.74 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $24.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $24.35 or one ~$14.95 credit |
| CHEAP OPTION: Get The Hobbit on Libro.fm here or here. | Get The Hobbit on Downpour here or here. | CHEAP OPTION: Get The Hobbit on Audible here. |
The Yoto store does not carry The Hobbit, you'll have to get the file elsewhere and make your own. If you choose one from Audible, then here's directions for unlocking your files for Yoto.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $19.60 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $14 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $19.60 or one $14.95 credit |
| After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. | This is the cheapest way to get Judy Blume's iconic novel. It's currently on sale for only $10.50. | After purchase, you'll need to use OpenAudible to convert the files into audio you can put on Yoto cards. |
| Get the audio on Libro.fm here. | Get the audio on Downpour here. | Get the audio on Audible here. |
This book is not currently available with Yoto and is about the same price on other platforms.
Howl's Moving Castle
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $22.99 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $19.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $27.37 or one $14.95 credit |
| After purchase, you can download the MP3s and then create a playlist on your Yoto app to make Yoto cards. | The book is currently on sale for $15, making it the cheapest way you can purchase this audio (unless you have credits with a different service). | Audible does have another version with a different reader that is cheaper. They are both unabridged, but we linked the more popular version. |
| Get the audio on Libro.fm here. | Get the audio on Downpour here. | Get the audio on Audible here. |
Yoto does not currently carry a Yoto card for this book.
Holes
| Yoto Store | Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Price: $12.99 | MP3 Cost: $21 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $15 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $13.97 or one $14.95 credit |
| CHEAPEST OPTION: Get Holes on Yoto here. | Get Holes on Libro.fm here. | Get Holes on Downpour here. | Get Holes on Audible here. |
We suggest getting this one through Yoto!
Wingfeather Saga
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $32.20 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $23 or two credits | MP3 Cost: $16.95 or one $14.95 credit |
| This series has four books and they are sold separately. The total cost of the series on Libro is $144.20, although with a membership it would be only $60. | The first book is currently on sale for $17.25. The series (at full price) costs $103 on Downpour. | Audible sells the books separately like the other services, and the total cost of the series is $97.80, making it the cheapest option for you. |
| Get the first book on Libro.fm here. | Get the first book on Downpour here. | CHEAPEST OPTION: Get the first book on Audible here. **These also totally go on sale if you can wait for one! |
Yoto does not currently sell any books from the Wingfeather Saga.
The Girl Who Drank The Moon
This is a beautiful fantasy novel for school-age children. I loved it!
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $22.99 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $19.99 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $24.49 or one $14.95 credit |
| Get The Girl Who Drank the Moon on Libro.fm here. | Get The Girl Who Drank the Moon on Downpour here. | Get The Girl Who Drank the Moon on Audible here. |
Yoto does not currently sell this book, and it's fairly comparable among the other options.
A Wrinkle In Time
This is a classic! Watch for sales on your platform of choice.
| Libro.fm | Downpour | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 Cost: $25.20 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $18 or one credit | MP3 Cost: $16.99 or one $14.95 credit |
| Get the book on Libro.fm here. | Get the book on Downpour here. | Get the book on Audible here. |
Yoto does not sell A Wrinkle in Time.
Esperanza Rising
| Yoto | Libro.fm | Audible/Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Card Price: $12.99 | MP3 Cost: $17.50 or $14.99 with the membership | MP3 Cost: $10.99 or one $14.95 credit |
| The Yoto Store offers the card for a super affordable price, making it your best choice for this book. | While the price of this audio isn't that expensive, it is cheaper to get the card through Yoto or the audio through Audible, even if you have a Libro membership. | The price of the audio is cheaper through Audible than the Yoto card, but remember that you'll need to get an MYO card and convert the audio. |
| Get Esperanza Rising on Libro.fm here. | Get Esperanza Rising on Libro.fm here. | Get Esperanza Rising on Audible here. |
Downpour doesn't Esperanza Rising available in English, only in Spanish.
The Cheapest Option is...
As you can tell, there's not really one specific place that will always have the cheapest option for Yoto cards.
Sometimes, if Yoto carries the card, then buying directly from them might be your best bet. Other times, even if they do carry it, their cards are more expensive than buying the audio from a different service along with an MYO card.
Audible has a lot of great prices, especially if you have a membership with them and can just use your credits to get the card. However, remember that you have to use OpenAudible to convert the audio into a format usable for Yoto cards. The first time will feel tricky but it's so easy once you've done it!
You can choose which source makes the most sense for each book. Have fun building your Yoto Library!
The posts below also have some sources for cheap or free content:
Rebecca says
Thank you so much for this post! We're looking for new audiobooks for our daughter and this was really helpful.
Becca says
Thank you for ALL this GREAT information! I have become a Libro member. Some of the Libro audio collection files are larger than the 500 MG max per card. (in partcular The Chronicles of Narnia and Ramona Collections). Any experience or thoughts on how to edit the Libro downloads to fit on multiple cards?